File cabinet drawer



Nov. 28, 1933. P. A. WETZEL FILE CABINET DRAWER Filed June 8, 1931 Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATE NT o ricE 1,936,867 FILE CABINET DRAWER, Peter A. Wetzel, Springfield, Ill. Application June 8, 1931. Serial No. 542,781

4 Claims.

The invention relates generally to drawers for file-cabinets. More particularly the invention relates to that type of file-cabinet drawer which is formed of sheet metal, embodies a drop front and has laterally projecting runners at the side margins of the bottom for sliding engagement with grooves in the sides of the cabinet.

One object of the invention is to provide a filecabinet drawer of this type in which the sides are provided at the lower margins thereof with outwardly extending flanges, and the bottom is formed separately from the sides and is arranged so that its side margins are secured to the flanges of the sides and form with the latter runners for the drawer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drop front file-cabinet drawer of the last mentioned character in which the side margins of the bottom project beyond the flanges on the sides and are bent inwardly into overlapped relation with respect to the flanges so that the runners are of triple thickness and are exceedingly durable and well adapted to the purpose for which they are designed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a file-cabinet drawer of the type under consideration in which the back is formed integrally with the sides and is provided with an outwardly projecting flange at the bottom margin thereof, and the rear margin of the bottom is extended so as to lap the flange on the back and is bent upwardly with the flange so as to form an interlocking connection whereby the back and bottom are permanently secured together..

A still further object of the'invention is to provide a drop front file-cabinet drawer which is generally of new and improved construction, may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost and is reinforced so that it is durable.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present drawer construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. I

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a drawer embodying the invention;

2 is a vertical transverse section illustrating in detail the manner in which the side margins of the bottom are fitted to and lapped around the laterally extending flanges on the sides so as to form runners for the drawer;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section disclosing the interfitting connection between the back and bottom of the drawer; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

drawer which forms the subject matter of the invention comprises a body 5 and a drop front 6 and is adapted for use in connection with a file-cabinet of thetype that comprises side walls which have in the inner faces thereof hori- Zontaliy extending vertically spaced grooves. The body 5 consists of a substantially flat, rectangular bottom 7, a pair of sides 8 and a back 9. The sides 8 project forwardly from and are formed integrally with the end margins of the back 9 and are provided at the lower margins thereof with outwardly projecting flanges 10. These flanges, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, terminate inwardly of the front ends of the sides and extend at right angles to the sides. elongated strip of sheet metal is preferably used to form the sides 8 and the back This strip 'is bent transversely that it is U-shaped and forms the sides and back of the drawer. The back Qserves to hold the sides 8 in spaced relation and is provided at its lower margin with a rearwardly extending flange 11. This flange is bent so that it extends upwardly and is spaced and substantially paraliel with the back. The bottom 7 is formed. from a plate of sheet metal and is separate from the sides and back. The side margins of the bottom '7 are extended. They abut against the under faces of the flanges 10 and embody outer portions 12 which are bent upwardly and inwardly so as to overlap the aforesaid flanges and form an interlocking connection between the sides'and thebottorn. The portions of the side margins of the bottom which underlie and overlap the flanges, together with the flanges l0, constitute laterally projecting runners for the drawer. adapted to fit slidably in the grooves in the sides of the cabinet with which .the drawer is designed for use, and serve to support the drawer so that it may be readily shifted into or out of the cabinet. By arranging the outer portions 12 of the side margins of the bottom so that they overlap the flanges 10 of the sides, the runners are of triple thickness and no rivets or other securing devices are necessary to connect the sides and the bottom. The rear margin of the A single 7 These runners are bottom '7 is bent upwardly so that it fits against the outer face of the flange 11 on the back 9 and embodies an outer portion 13. The latter is doubled back so as to lap the front face of the flange 11, and forms with the flange an interlocking connection whereby the back 9 and bottom '7 are permanently connected. The front end of the bottom 7 is provided with a pair of flanges 14 which project upwardly and are located directly in front of the portions of the side margins of the bottom that are associated with the flanges l0, and form the runners for the drawer. The flanges 1 lap the outer faces of the front ends of the sides 8 and are secured in place by rivets 15 so as to form a rigid connection between the sides and the front end of the bottom 7. In order to avoid sharp edges, the upper margin of the back 9 and the front and upper margins of the sides 8 are doubled over, as at 16. The front margin of the bottom '7 is doubled over, as at 1'7, and is cut away as at 18, so as to facilitate removal of the articles that are filed or stored in the body 5. To strengthen the drawer-body, the front ends of the sides 8 are provided with instruck ribs 19. The latter extend vertically and serve to prevent longitudinal bending of the sides. The bottom 7 of the body 5 is provided along the front margin thereof with an upstruck rib 20. This rib joins the lower ends of the ribs 18, operates to reinforce the front end of the bottom and tends to prevent forward displacement of the articles within. the body 5.

The drop front 6 consists of a rectangular front member 21 and a pair of hinge-brackets 22. The latter are secured to the ends of the front member and embody rearwardly extending hinge-pieces which lap the flanges 14 and are pivotally connected to the front ends of the sides 8 by rivets 24. These rivets extend through the sides 8 and the rear ends of the flanges l4 and permit the drop front to swing vertically into and out of its operative position. The hingeieces 23 embody outwardly extending flanges 25 which form continuations of the runners and fit slidably in the grooves in the sides of the cabinet with which the drawer is used so as to support the drop front in its closed position.

The herein disclosed drop front file-cabinet drawer may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost by virtue of the fact that it consists of but a small number of parts. By providing the sides of the drawer with laterally extending flanges and bending the side margins of the bottom around these flanges to form runners, the construction of the drawer-body is simplified and no attaching devices are needed to connect the rear ends of the sides to the bottom.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the. scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pa ent, is:

1. A file-cabinet drawer of the type described, comprising a back, a pair of sheet metal sides connected to and projecting forwardly from the ends of the back, the intermediate and rear portions only of the lower margins of the sides being extended and bent outwardly to form integral, laterally extending flanges, a sheet metal bottom formed separately from the sides and having the intermediate and rear portions of its side margins extending under and doubled back over the the front ends of the sides and flanges to form triple thickness runners for the drawer which terminate rearwardly of the front ends of the sides and have clear spaces directly in front thereof and along the front portions'of the lower margins of the sides, and a drop front for the drawer embodying brackets at the ends thereof extending rearwardly and lapping the front ends of the sides and connected pivotally to said front ends of the sides so that they are free to swing downwardly across said clear spaces when it is desired to drop the front to permit of access to the interior of the drawer by way of the front of the drawer.

2. A file-cabinet drawer of the type described, comprising'a back,.a pair of sheet metal sides connected to and projecting forwardly from the ends of the back, the intermediate and rear portions only of the lower margins of the sides being extended and bent outwardly to form integral, laterally extending flanges, a sheet metal bottomv formed separately from the sides and having the intermediate and rear portions of its side margins extending under and doubled back over the flanges to form triple thickness runners for the drawer which terminate rearwardly of have clear spaces directly in front thereof and along the front portions of the lower margins of the sides, the front portions of the side margins of the bottom being bent upwardly and secured directly against the outer faces of the front ends of the sides in order to effect direct connection between the front end of the bottom and said front ends of the sides and to form single thickness reinforcing flanges for said front ends of the sides, and a drop front for the drawer embodying brackets at the ends thereof extending rearwardly and lapping the front ends of the sides and connected pivotally to said front ends of the sides by rivets extending through the aforesaid side-reinforcing flanges so that they are free to swing downwardly across said clear spaces when it is desired to drop the front to permitof. access to the interior of the drawer by way of the front of the drawer.

3. A file-cabinet drawer of the type described, comprising .a back, a pair of sides connected to and projecting forwardly from the ends of the back, a sheet metal bottom connected to the back and sides and embodying an upstruck rib along the frcnt'margin thereof operative to reinforce the bottom and to prevent articles in the drawer from working out through the front of the drawer, runners at the lower margins of the sides terminating rearwardly of the front ends of said sides, and a drop-front embodying brackets connected pivotally to the front ends of the sides.

' 4. A file cabinet drawer of the type described, comprising a back, a pair of sheet metal sides connected to and projecting forwardly from the ends of the ribs in the front ends thereof for reinforcing purposes, a sheet metal bottom connected to the back and sides and embodying an upstruck reinforcing rib along the'front margin thereof, said last mentioned rib being joined to the lower ends of ribs on thesides and operating to prevent accidental displacement of the articles in the drawer through the drawer front, runners at the lower margins of the sides terminating rearwardly of thefront ends .of said. sides, and a drop-front embodying brackets connected. pivotally to the front ends of the sides.

PETER A. WETZEL.

back and embodying vertical instruck 

